How to travel from Atlanta to Austin on the cheap

Photo: iStock

August 7, 2019

Looking for a trending new city to explore? Consider Austin, Texas, one of the fastest growing large cities in the country and U.S. News & World Report's #1 place to live in the U.S. for the past two years running.

The self-proclaimed "Live Music Capital of the World" is home to many students, artists and musicians, along with a booming tech industry and a classic Texas barbecue and Tex-Mex food scene. Despite its growth, Austin seeks to maintain its eccentric local vibe, with plenty of independent businesses and a strong commitment to the local environment. Austin hosts numerous festivals throughout the year and boasts more music venues per capita than any other city in the U.S. The list of local attractions also includes extensive theaters, museums and outdoor spaces like parks, lakes and waterways.

Fortunately, there are plenty of relatively inexpensive flights between Atlanta and Austin, at least according to travel site Skyscanner.

Here’s a list of flights, hotels, restaurants and local attractions in Austin to get you started. (Prices and availability are current as of publication and subject to change.)

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Cheapest Austin flights

Spirit Airlines also has tickets at that price point later in August. If you fly out of Atlanta on Aug. 29 and return from Austin on Sept. 3, Spirit Airlines can get you there and back for $73 roundtrip.

Top Austin hotels

In regards to accommodations, here are some of Austin’s top-rated hotels that were selected from Skyscanner's listings, based on price and customer satisfaction.

A landmark in downtown Austin, this legendary hotel has become synonymous with traditional Texas hospitality. Guests can enjoy convenient access to the best of Austin, from the Texas State Capitol and Austin Convention Center to the city’s world-famous Sixth Street nightlife scene.

Located on the south side of the University of Texas at Austin campus, the AT&T Education and Conference center offers luxury hotel amenities and full conference center facilities. Guest benefits include access to the UT pool and gym facilities, in addition to the fitness room and swimming pool on-site.

The Hotel Ella (1900 Rio Grande)

Photo: Trip by Skyscanner

If you're looking to treat yourself, there's The Hotel Ella. The 4.8-star hotel has rooms for $199/night.

Top picks for dining and drinking

Don't miss out on Austin's food scene, which has ample noteworthy options to get a taste of the local cuisine. Here are a few of the top-rated eateries from Skyscanner's listings.

Uchi (801 S. Lamar Blvd.)

Photo: Trip by Skyscanner

One of Austin's most popular restaurants is Uchi, which has an average of 4.9 stars out of 104 reviews on Skyscanner.

Uchi's culi­nary philos­ophy combines local, seasonal ingre­di­ents with an infinite spec­trum of seafood from around the globe, inviting diners to explore their gastro­nomic bound­aries by pairing tradi­tional Japanese offer­ings with new flavors and textures.

"Amazing sushi," wrote visitor Katie. "It's up there against anything you'll have in San Francisco, NYC or elsewhere."

Known as one of Austin's finest attractions, Barton Springs Pool is the perfect outing for those hot Texas days — or even the cool ones. Maintaining a comfortable 68 degrees Fahrenheit year-round, visitors can enjoy a 100% natural swimming experience with no chlorine.

"A must-visit [in] Austin, especially in the summer," wrote visitor Nici. "You can swim laps, jump [off] a diving board, bring a float and just relax in the always-cool water. Then, lay out on the hill in the sun to warm up and repeat."

"A wonderful body of water in the center of the city," wrote visitor Nici. "I highly suggest biking around Lady Bird Lake. ... There are solid trails, and on either side of the lake, there are additional areas you can ride through for a longer, more scenic ride of Austin."

This story was created automatically using flight, hotel, and local attractions data, then reviewed by an editor. Click here for more about what we're doing. Got thoughts? Go here to share your feedback.